Display control apparatus, display control method, and program

ABSTRACT

There is provided a display control apparatus including an external memory accommodating unit for accommodating a removable external memory; a database recognizing unit for recognizing a database stored in the external memory, the database being recorded with an image stored in the external memory and information related to the image in correspondence to each other; a display method setting unit for setting either display method of a stored first display method or a second display method of displaying the image stored in the external memory without using the database based on a recognition result of the database recognizing unit; and a display controlling unit for displaying the image stored in the external memory by the display method based on the set display method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims the benefitof priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Ser. No. 14/271,500, filed May7, 2014, which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.13/856,963, filed Apr. 4, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,760,550, which is acontinuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/470,925, filed May 22,2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,436,929, and which claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Application No. 2008-149826,filed Jun. 6, 2008, the entire contents of each of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display control apparatus, a displaycontrol method, and a program.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a device having an imaging function for imaging a stillimage and/or moving image such as a digital still camera, a digitalvideo camera including a “Handycam”, which trademark right is given tothe applicant of the subject application, and a mobile telephone havinga digital camera function is being widespread used. The frequency theuser performs imaging increases and the number of imaged images alsoincreases by providing the imaging function to the portable device suchas the mobile telephone. The storage medium of the recording medium forstoring the imaged images is also increasing, where great number ofimages can be recorded in one recording medium.

The device having such imaging function can record the imaged image inthe removable recording medium such as a Memory Stick. The imagesrecorded in the recording medium can be reproduced and the like in otherdevices different from the device that imaged the image by recording theimages in the removable recording medium.

A technique for improving the efficiency in the process of searching anddisplaying a list of images recorded in the recording medium is beingdeveloped. The technique of storing a data base in which an image andinformation related to the image are corresponded in the recordingmedium to improve the efficiency in the process desired in the similarlysearch of images, displaying of list of images satisfying apredetermined condition and the like using a database is describedJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-206918.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device applied with the technique of the related art for improvingthe efficiency in the process of searching and displaying a list ofimages recorded in the recording medium, improves efficiency of theprocess by using the database. Thus, the device applied with thetechnique of the related art can provide functions such as similarlysearch of images and displaying of list of images satisfying apredetermined condition to the user using the relevant device, wherebythe convenience of the user improves. However, the device applied withthe technique of the related art may not improve the efficiency inprocess if the database does not exist in the recording medium, and thusthe convenience of the user may not be enhanced.

The device applied with the technique of the related art may not be ableto automatically display the recorded images if the database is notreferenced even if the images are recorded in the recording medium. Insuch case, the user desirably has the device applied with the techniqueof the related art read out the images recorded in the recording mediumthrough manual operation, which significantly lowers the operability ofthe user.

One method of enhancing the convenience of the user when the databasedoes not exist in the recording medium includes having the device forreading out the images recorded in the recording medium perform thefollowing processes (a) to (d).

(a) The device for reading out the images recorded in the recordingmedium newly creates a database if the database does not exist in therecording medium.

(b) The device for reading out the images recorded in the recordingmedium analyzes each image recorded in the recording medium, and derivesinformation related to the image.

(c) The device for reading out the images recorded in the recordingmedium corresponds the image and the information related to the imagebased on the information related to the image derived in the process of(b), and registers the same in the database created in the process of(a).

(d) The device for reading out the images recorded in the recordingmedium selectively reads out the images recorded in the recording mediumusing the database registered in the process of (c).

The device for reading out the images recorded in the recording mediumcan improve the efficiency in process of searching and displaying a listof images using the created database by performing the processes (a) to(d). In the device for reading out the images recorded in the recordingmedium, the effect of enhancing the convenience of the user can beexpected by performing the processes (a) to (d). Furthermore, in thedevice for reading out the images recorded in the recording medium, thepossibility an event the database is not referenced occurs can bereduced by performing the processes (a) to (d), and thus the possibilityan event the operability of the user significantly lowers occurs canalso be reduced.

However, when the device for reading out the images recorded in therecording medium performs the processes (a) to (d), the device analyzesthe images recorded in the recording medium and derives the informationrelated to the image. For instance, if 10000 still images are recordedin the recording medium, the device for reading out the images recordedin the recording medium desires great amount of time for processing ifit takes a few dozen minutes to simply perform the processes (a) to (c).If the processing time of a few dozen minutes is desired, theoperability of the user significantly lowers even if the device forreading out the images recorded in the recording medium is able toenhance the convenience of the user by performing the processes (a) to(d).

Therefore, in the device applied with the technique of the related artto improve the efficiency in processes such as searching and displayinga list of images recorded in the recording medium, both the convenienceand the operability of the user may not be enhanced when displaying theimages recorded in the recording medium.

The present invention addresses the above-identified, and other issuesassociated with methods in related art and apparatuses, and it isdesirable to provide a new and improved display control apparatuscapable of enhancing both the convenience and the operability of theuser when displaying the images recorded in the recording medium, adisplay control method, and a program.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided adisplay control apparatus including an external memory accommodatingunit for accommodating a removable external memory; a databaserecognizing unit for recognizing a database stored in the externalmemory, the database being recorded with an image stored in the externalmemory and information related to the image in correspondence to eachother; a display method setting unit for setting either display methodof a stored first display method or a second display method ofdisplaying the image stored in the external memory without using thedatabase based on a recognition result of the database recognizing unit;and a display controlling unit for displaying the image stored in theexternal memory by the display method based on the set display method.

According to such configuration, the convenience and the operability onthe user can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in therecording medium.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above,there is also provided a display control apparatus including an internalmemory capable of storing an image and a database recorded withinformation related to the image, the information being incorrespondence with the image; a database recognizing unit forrecognizing the database stored in the internal memory; a display methodsetting unit for setting either display method of a stored first displaymethod or a second display method of displaying the image stored in theinternal memory without using the database based on a recognition resultof the database recognizing unit; and a display controlling unit fordisplaying the image stored in the internal memory by the display methodbased on the set display method.

According to such configuration, the convenience and the operability onthe user can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in therecording medium.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,there is provided a display control method including the steps of:detecting an external memory accommodated in an external memoryaccommodating unit for accommodating a removable external memory;recognizing a database stored in the external memory detected in thedetecting step, the database being recorded with an image stored in theexternal memory and information related to the image in correspondenceto each other; setting either display method of a stored first displaymethod or a second display method of displaying the image stored in theexternal memory without using the database based on a recognition resultin the recognizing step; and displaying the image stored in the externalmemory by the display method based on the display method set in thesetting step.

According to such method, the convenience and the operability on theuser can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in the recordingmedium.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,there is also provided a display control method including the steps of:recognizing a database stored in an internal memory capable of storingan image and the database, the database being recorded with informationrelated to the image, the information being in correspondence with theimage; setting either display method of a stored first display method ora second display method of displaying the image stored in the internalmemory without using the database based on a recognition result in therecognizing step; and displaying the image stored in the internal memoryby the display method based on the display method set in the settingstep.

According to such method, the convenience and the operability on theuser can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in the recordingmedium.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the stepsof: detecting an external memory accommodated in an external memoryaccommodating unit for accommodating a removable external memory;recognizing a database stored in the external memory detected in thedetecting step, the database being recorded with an image stored in theexternal memory and information related to the image in correspondenceto each other; setting either display method of a stored first displaymethod or a second display method of displaying the image stored in theexternal memory without using the database based on a recognition resultin the recognizing step; and displaying the image stored in the externalmemory by the display method based on the display method set in thesetting step.

According to such program, the convenience and the operability on theuser can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in the recordingmedium.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the stepsof: recognizing a database stored in an internal memory capable ofstoring an image and the database, the database being recorded withinformation related to the image, the information being incorrespondence with the image; setting either display method of a storedfirst display method or a second display method of displaying the imagestored in the internal memory without using the database based on arecognition result in the recognizing step; and displaying the imagestored in the internal memory by the display method based on the displaymethod set in the setting step.

According to such program, the convenience and the operability on theuser can be enhanced in displaying the image recorded in the recordingmedium.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,the convenience and the operability on the user can be enhanced indisplaying the image recorded in the recording medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first example of a displaymethod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a second example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a third example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a fourth example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of the flow of process ina display control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second example of the flow of process ina display control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a third example of the flow of process ina display control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a fourth example of the flow of process inthe display control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration of adisplay control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the display control apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing one example of a databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration of adisplay control apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the display control apparatus according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note thatin this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same functions and structures are denotedwith the same reference numerals and a repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

The description is made in the following order.

1. Approach related to embodiment of the present invention

2. Display control apparatus according to embodiment of the presentinvention

3. Program related to display control apparatus according to embodimentof the present invention

The recording medium for recording the images will be described belowusing a recording medium (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “externalmemory”) removable from the display control apparatus and a recordingmedium (hereinafter referred to as “internal memory) arranged in thedisplay control apparatus by way of example. The following descriptionis mainly made assuming that the display control apparatus displays theimages recorded in the external memory, but it is not limited thereto.The display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may display the images recorded in the internal memory similarto the images recorded in the external memory. Furthermore, the imagerelated to the embodiment of the present invention may be a still imageor a moving image.

(Approach Related to Embodiment of the Present Invention)

Prior to describing the configuration of the display control apparatus(hereinafter sometimes referred to as “display control apparatus 1000”)according to an embodiment of the present invention, the approach forenhancing the convenience and the operability in the display of imagesrecorded in the recording medium according to the embodiment of thepresent invention will be described.

As described above, the device applied with the technique of the relatedart for improving the efficiency in processes such as searching anddisplaying a list of images recorded in the recording medium can enhancethe convenience of the user by using the database but may affect theoperability. As described above, the device applied with the techniqueof the related art may lower the operability of the user even if theprocesses (a) to (c) are performed.

The display control apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention performs the following processes (A) to (C) to enhancethe convenience and the operability in the display of images recorded inthe recording medium (external memory/internal memory. This is the samehereinafter).

[Outline of Process in Display Control Apparatus 1000]

(A) Recognition of Database Recorded in Recording Medium

The display control apparatus 1000 recognizes the database recorded inthe recording medium based a predetermined criterion. The predeterminedcriterion in the display control apparatus 1000 includes, for example,“whether database is recorded in the recording medium” and “whethernumber of images registered in the database exceeds a predeterminednumber”, but is not limited thereto.

(B) Setting of Display Method Based on Recognition Result of Database

The display control apparatus 1000 sets the display method (hereinaftersometimes referred to as “display mode”) of the image based on therecognition result in the process of (A). More specifically, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 sets a stored first display method if thepredetermined criterion is met based on the recognition result in theprocess of (A). The display control apparatus 1000 sets a second displaymethod of displaying the images stored in the recording medium withoutusing the database if the predetermined criterion is met based on therecognition result in the process of (A).

The display control apparatus 1000 sets the stored display method (firstdisplay method) such as display method set recently if determined thatthe predetermined criterion is met based on the recognition result inthe process of (A). Since the database can be used if the predeterminedcriterion is met, the display control apparatus 1000 can display theimages recorded in the recording medium using the database even if thestored display method uses the database. When the first display methodis set, the display control apparatus 1000 does not require great amountof time in the process as in the device for performing the processes (a)to (d) even if the stored display method uses the database. Therefore,the display control apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and theoperability of the user in the display of images by setting the firstdisplay method.

The display control apparatus 1000 sets the display method (seconddisplay method) that does not use the database if the predeterminedcriterion is not met based on the recognition result in the process of(A). Therefore, in the display control apparatus 1000, an event in whichthe images recorded in the recording medium is not automaticallydisplayed as in the device applied with the technique of the related artdoes not occur. Furthermore, in the display control apparatus 1000,great amount of time is not required for the process as in the devicefor performing the processes (a) to (d). Therefore, the display controlapparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and the operability of theuser in the display of images even if the second display method is set.

[Example of Display Method According to Embodiment of the PresentInvention]

One example of the display method according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. The display method according to theembodiment of the present invention can be broadly classified into [B-1]display method not using database and [B-2] display method usingdatabase.

[B-1] Example of Display Method not Using Database (FIG. 1)

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention, and showsone example of the display method not using the database. FIG. 2 is anexplanatory view showing a second example of the display methodaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows thedisplay method of when the user selects one image from a list of imagesshown in FIG. 1.

For the display method not using the database, the display controlapparatus 1000 displays, by folders, a list of images stored in a folder(or also referred to as “directory”) managed according to the DCF(Design rule for Camera File system) standard and the like. FIG. 1 showsan example showing a list of images stored in a folder 101 (so-calledthumbnail display). The display method of displaying the images byfolders is hereinafter referred to as “folder view mode”.

When the user of the display control apparatus 1000 selects one of theimages (thumbnail images) shown by the folder view mode, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 displays the selected image on the entire displayscreen, as shown in FIG. 2. It should be recognized that the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can arbitrarily transition from the display stateof FIG. 2 to the folder view mode shown in FIG. 1 or to other displaymethods to be hereinafter described in response to the operation of theuser.

[B-2] Display Method of Using Database

An example of the display method using the database according to theembodiment of the present invention will be described. The displaymethod using the database according to the embodiment of the presentinvention includes “date view mode”, “favorite view mode”, and the like.

[B-2-1] Date View Mode (FIG. 3)

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a third example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention, where alist of images imaged on Oct. 10, 2007 is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, thedisplay method of showing a list of images by selectively extractingimages imaged on a specific date from the images recorded in therecording medium is referred to as “date view mode” in the presentembodiment. The display control apparatus 1000 references the databasebased on the date specified by the user to realize the date view mode asshown in FIG. 3. In the database, the images recorded in the recordingmedium and the information (one example of information related to image)of the date on which the relevant image is imaged are corresponded andrecorded. The specific example of the database according to theembodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described.

[B-2-2] Favorite View Mode (FIG. 4)

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a fourth example of the displaymethod according to the embodiment of the present invention, where alist of images imaged at the beach is shown. FIG. 4 shows one example ofthe display screen displayed as a result of the user editing the imagesimaged at the beach and collecting the images in a display group“favorite 1”. The display device 1000 references the database in whichthe images recorded in the recording medium and a flag (one example ofinformation related to image) indicating favorite are corresponded andrecorded to selectively display a specific image set with the flag. Theflag indicating favorite is directly set by the user operation, but isnot limited thereto, and may be indirectly set by the display controlapparatus 1000 based on the condition specified by the user (e.g.,“image of beach” etc.). The display method of showing a list of imagesset with the flag indicating favorite as shown in FIG. 4 is referred toas “favorite view mode” in the embodiment of the present invention.

The display control apparatus 1000 can display the image that matchesthe specific condition from the images recorded in the recording mediumas in the date view mode shown in FIG. 3 and the favorite view modeshown in FIG. 4 by using the database. Therefore, the display controlapparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience of the user. It should berecognized that the display method using the database according to theembodiment of the present invention is not limited to the date view modeand the favorite view mode. For instance, the display control apparatus1000 can use the display method (so-called event view mode) ofselectively displaying the image (e.g., image set with predeterminedflag) imaged at a specific event for the display method using thedatabase.

In the display control apparatus 1000, the display method as described[B-1] (folder view mode), [B-2-1] (date view mode), [B-2-2] (favoriteview mode) is used. The first display method according to the embodimentof the present invention corresponds to the display method of one of[B-1] (folder view mode), [B-2-1] (date view mode), [B-2-2] (favoriteview mode). The second display method according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is the display method of displaying without using thedatabase, and corresponds to [B-1] (folder view mode).

(C) Display Control Based on Set Display Method

The display control apparatus 1000 controls the display of image on thedisplay screen based on the display method (first display method/seconddisplay method) set in the process of (B).

The display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in therecording medium on the display screen by the display method of eitherthe stored first display method or the second display method not usingthe database by performing the processes of (A) to (C).

Here, the display control apparatus 1000 displays the image using thedatabase when the stored display method is the display mode using thedatabase when the first display method is set. The display controlapparatus 1000 does not perform the process of registering the image inthe database even if the stored display method uses the database, andthus great amount of time is not required in the process as in thedevice of performing the processes (a) to (d). The display controlapparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in the folder by folderswhen the stored display method is the display mode not using thedatabase when the first display method is set (folder view mode).

When the second display method is set, the display control apparatus1000 does not display the image using the database. Therefore, when thesecond display method is set, an event where the images recorded in therecording medium is not automatically displayed as in the device appliedwith the technique of the related art does not occur in the displaycontrol apparatus 1000. When the second display method is set, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 does not perform the process ofregistering the image in the database, and thus great amount of time isnot required as in the device for performing the processes (a) to (d).

Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 enhances the convenienceand the operability of the user in the display of images by performingthe processes (A) to (C).

[Details of Process in the Display Control Apparatus 1000]

The process in the display control apparatus 1000 will be specificallydescribed below.

First Example

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of the flow of process inthe display control apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 shows an example of the process of when thedisplay control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theexternal memory (recording medium).

The display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not theexternal memory is detected (S100). The display control apparatus 1000performs the determination of step S100 when the external memory isaccommodated in an external memory accommodating unit based on thedetection signal transmitted from the detection sensor for detecting theinsertion of the external memory arranged in the external memoryaccommodating unit. The detection sensor may be a light detection sensorconfigured by a light emitting diode and a photodiode for outputting thedetection signal corresponding to the received light quantity, but isnot limited thereto. If the detection sensor is the light detectionsensor, the signal level of the detection signal changes by theinsertion of the external memory to the external memory accommodatingunit, and thus the display control apparatus 1000 can perform thedetermination of step S100 based on the detection signal.

It should be recognized that the display control apparatus 1000 canperform the determination of step S100 not only when the external memoryis accommodated in the external memory accommodating unit, but also whenthe user performs a predetermined operation.

The display control apparatus 1000 does not proceed the process unlessdetermined that the external memory is detected in step S100.

If determined that the external memory is detected in step S100, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not a databaseexists in the external memory (S102). The display control apparatus 1000can perform the determination of step S102 depending on whether or not afile (or file group) of a predefined file name exists, but is notlimited thereto.

<When Determined that Database does not Exist>

If determined that the database does not exist in the external memory instep S102, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode(S110; setting of second display method). The display control apparatus1000 displays the images recorded in the external memory based on thedisplay mode set in step S110 (S108).

Although not shown in FIG. 5, the display control apparatus 1000 canstore the display mode set when displaying the image in step S108 in astorage unit (hereinafter described) arranged in the display controlapparatus 1000. An example where the display control apparatus 1000stores the set display mode as “display mode holding data” in thestorage unit will be described below.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, the display control apparatus 1000 cannewly create a database if determined that the database does not existin the external memory in step S102. The database created in such casecorresponds to the database in the initial state in which the imagesrecorded in the external memory is not registered.

As described above, if determined that the database does not exist inthe external memory in step S102, the display control apparatus 1000displays the image in the folder view mode (second display method) asshown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canenhance the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image.

<When Determined that Database Exists>

If determined that the database exists in the external memory in stepS102, the display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not thedatabase is usable (S104). Here, the display control apparatus 1000 candetermine that the database is not usable based on the criterionindicated in (a) and (ii) below, but the criterion is not limited to thefollowing.

(i) Determination Based on Version of Database (Determination Based onCompatibility)

The display control apparatus 1000 reads out from the external memoryinformation (e.g., version number etc.) of the version set for thedatabase recorded in the external memory. The display control apparatus1000 then compares the version of the database indicated by the readinformation of the version and the version of the database to which thedisplay control apparatus 1000 corresponds to determine whether or notthe database is usable. For instance, the display control apparatus 1000determines that the database is usable when the version of the databaseread out from the external memory is lower than or equal to the versionof the database to which the display control apparatus 1000 corresponds.The display control apparatus 1000 determines that the database is notusable if the version of the database read out from the external memoryis higher than the version of the database to which the display controlapparatus 1000 corresponds.

As described above, the display control apparatus 1000 can display theimages recorded in the external memory using the database to which ithas compatibility by performing the determination based on the versionof the database. As the display control apparatus 1000 performs thedetermination based on the version of the database, the display controlapparatus 1000 can prevent various errors such as not being able to readout the information registered in the database or breaking the databaseto which it does not have compatibility.

(ii) Determination Based on Readout Result of the Database

The display control apparatus 1000 reads out the database from theexternal memory. The display control apparatus 1000 determines whetheror not the database is usable based on whether or not the read outdatabase is normally read out. Here, cases where the database recordedin the external memory is the file (or file group) in which only thefile name is correct or where the database is altered at the binarylevel are given as an example in which the display control apparatus1000 does not correctly read out the database.

As described above, the display control apparatus 1000 can preventerrors such as not being able to read out information registered in thedatabase by performing the determination based on the readout result ofthe database.

If determined that the database is not usable in step S104, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode (S110; setting ofsecond display method). The display control apparatus 1000 then displaysthe images recorded in the external memory based on the display mode setin step S110 (S108).

As described above, if determined that the database is not usable instep S104, the display control apparatus 1000 displays the folder viewmode (second display method) as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and the operabilityof the user in displaying the image.

If determined that the database is usable in step S104, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 sets the stored display mode (S106; setting offirst display method). The display control apparatus 1000 can performthe process of step S106 based on the display mode holding data storedin the internal memory to be hereinafter described. The display modeindicated by the display mode holding data includes the folder view modeshown in FIG. 1, the date view mode shown in FIG. 3, and the favoriteview mode shown in FIG. 4, but is not limited thereto.

The display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theexternal memory based on the display mode set in step S106 (S108).

As described above, if determined that the database is usable in stepS104, the display control apparatus 1000 displays the image in thestored display mode (first display method). Therefore, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and the operabilityof the user in displaying the image.

Through the use of the processing method shown in FIG. 5, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can selectively set the first display method orthe second display method based on the existence of the database orwhether or not the database is usable, and display the images recordedin the external memory. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000can realize the processes (A) to (C) described above by using theprocessing method shown in FIG. 5, whereby the convenience and theoperability of the user in displaying the image can be enhanced.

Second Example

Through the use of the processing method shown in FIG. 5, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can realize the processes (A) to (C) describedabove. However, the processing method in the display control apparatus1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limitedto the first example of the processing method shown in FIG. 5. A secondexample of the processing method in the display control apparatus 1000will now be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the second exampleof the flow of process in the display control apparatus 1000 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 6 shows anexample of the process of when the display control apparatus 1000displays the images recorded in the external memory, similar to thefirst example shown in FIG. 5.

Similar to step S100 shown in FIG. 5, the display control apparatus 1000determines whether or not the external memory is detected (S200). Thedisplay control apparatus 1000 does not proceed the process unlessdetermined that the external memory is detected in step S200.

If determined that the external memory is detected in step S200, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not a databaseexists in the external memory (S202), similar to step S102 shown in FIG.5.

<When Determined that Database does not Exist>

If determined that the database does not exist in the external memory instep S202, the display control apparatus 1000 newly creates the database(S212). The database created in step S212 corresponds to the database inthe initial state in which the images recorded in the external memory isnot registered.

When the database is created in step S212, the display control apparatus1000 sets the folder view mode, similar to step S110 shown in FIG. 5(S214; setting of second display method). The display control apparatus1000 displays the images recorded in the external memory based on thedisplay mode set in step S214 (S210).

Although not shown in FIG. 6, the display control apparatus 1000 canrecord the display mode set when displaying the image in step S210 inthe display mode holding data.

As described above, if determined that the database does not exist inthe external memory in step S202, the display control apparatus 1000displays the image in the folder view mode (second display method) shownin FIG. 1, similar to the first example shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and theoperability of the user in displaying the image.

In FIG. 6, a method in which the display control apparatus 1000generates the database in step S212 has been shown, but it is notlimited thereto. For instance, the display control apparatus 1000 maynot create the database and may perform the process of step S214 ifdetermined that the database does not exist in the external memory instep S202. It should be recognized that the display control apparatus1000 can perform the process of step S214 even if the generation of thedatabase fails in step S212.

<When Determined that Database Exists>

If determined that the database exists in the external memory in stepS202, the display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not thedatabase is usable (S204), similar to step S104 of FIG. 5.

If determined that the database is not usable in step S204, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 set the folder view mode (S214; setting of seconddisplay method). The display control apparatus 1000 displays the imagesrecorded in the external memory based on the display mode set in stepS214 (S210).

If determined that the database is not usable in step S204, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 displays the image in the folder view mode(second display method) as shown in FIG. 1, similar to the first exampleshown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canenhance the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image.

If determined that the database is usable in step S204, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 determines whether or not “number of imageregistered in database >N (N is a natural number)” (S206). The value ofN may be a predefined value (e.g., 0 (zero)), but is not limitedthereto. For example, the display control apparatus 1000 can set thevalue of N to an arbitrary value according to the operation signalcorresponding to the user operation transmitted from the operation unit(hereinafter described).

Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can prevent errors such asnot being able to read out the information registered in the database asthe information is not recorded by performing the determination based onthe number of images registered in the database.

If determined as not “number of image registered in database >N” in stepS206, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode(S214; setting of second display method). The display control apparatus1000 displays the images recorded in the external memory based on thedisplay mode set in step S214 (S210).

If determined that the number of images registered in the database isnot greater than a predetermined threshold value (N) in step S206, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 displays the image in the folder viewmode (second display method) as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and the operabilityof the user in displaying the image.

If determined that “number of image registered in database >N” in stepS206, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the stored display mode(S208; setting of first display method), similar to step S106 of FIG. 5.The display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theexternal memory based on the display mode set in step S208 (S210).

If determined that the number of images registered in the database isgreater than a predetermined threshold value (N) in step S206, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 displays the image in the stored displaymode (first display method), similar to the first example shown in FIG.5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can enhance theconvenience and the operability of the user in displaying the image.

Through the use of the processing method shown in FIG. 6, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can selectively set the first display method orthe second display method based on the number of images registered inthe database and the like, and display the images recorded in theexternal memory. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canrealize the processes (A) to (C) described above by using the processingmethod shown in FIG. 6, similar to when using the processing methodshown in FIG. 5, whereby the convenience and the operability of the userin displaying the image can be enhanced.

Third Example

The processing method of when the display control apparatus 1000displays the images recorded in the external memory has been shown asthe first example and the second example of the processing method in thedisplay control apparatus 1000. However, the display control apparatus1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limitedto displaying the images recorded in the external memory, and maydisplay the images recorded in the internal memory (recording medium).The internal memory is a unique recording medium (basically recordingmedium that is not used when removed) arranged in the display controlapparatus 1000 such as the hard disk, and the user can generally freelyaccess the internal memory. That is, the user can perform variousoperations on the internal memory such as creating a folder according tothe DCF standard, recording data to the internal memory, deleting therecorded data, altering the recorded data, or formatting the internalmemory. Thus, even if the display control apparatus 1000 stores thedatabase in the internal memory at one time point, the display controlapparatus 1000 may not be able to display the images using the databaseat another time point due to formatting of the internal memory, deletionor alteration of the database, and the like. A process of whendisplaying the images recorded in the internal memory will now bedescribed as a third example of the processing method in the displaycontrol apparatus 1000.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the third example of the flow of processin the display control apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. Here, FIG. 7 shows an example of the process of whenthe display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theinternal memory (recording medium).

The display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not to displaythe image (S300). The display control apparatus 1000 determines todisplay the image when the operation state changes from the imaging modeof performing imaging to the display mode of reproducing the image, butis not limited thereto. For example, the display control apparatus 1000may determine to display the image based on a predetermined operationsignal transmitted from the operation unit (hereinafter described)according to the user operation.

If determined not to display the image in step S300, the display controlapparatus 1000 does not proceed the process.

If determined to display the image in step S300, the display controlapparatus 1000 determines whether or not the database exists in theinternal memory (S302). The display control apparatus 1000 can performthe determination of step S302 depending on whether or not a file (orfile group) of a predefined file name exists in the internal memory, butis not limited thereto. For instance, the display control apparatus 1000recognizes the existence of the database when a predetermined state isdetected, holds the recognition result, and performs the determinationof step S302 based on the held recognition result. The predeterminedstate includes a state in which connection between the display controlapparatus 1000 and an external device such as PC (Personal Computer)(e.g., USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection and network connection) iscut (canceled), but is not limited thereto.

<When Determined that Database does not Exist>

If determined that the database does not exist in the internal memory instep S302, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode(S310; setting of second display method). The display control apparatus1000 displays the images recorded in the internal memory based on thedisplay mode set in step S310 (S308).

Although not shown in FIG. 7, the display control apparatus 1000 cannewly create a database if determined that the database does not existin the internal memory in step S302. The database created in such casecorresponds to the database in the initial state in which the imagesrecorded in the internal memory is not registered.

As described above, if determined that the database does not exist inthe internal memory in step S302, the display control apparatus 1000displays the image in the folder view mode (second display method) asshown in FIG. 1, similar to the first example shown in FIG. 5.Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can enhance theconvenience and the operability of the user in displaying the image.

<When Determined that Database Exists>

If determined that the database exists in the internal memory in stepS302, the display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not thedatabase is usable (S304). Here, the display control apparatus 1000 candetermine whether or not the database recorded in the internal memory isusable similar to step S104 of FIG. 5.

If determined that the database is not usable in step S304, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode (S310; setting ofsecond display method). The display control apparatus 1000 displays theimages recorded in the internal memory based on the display mode set instep S310 (S308).

If determined that the database is not usable in step S304, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 displays the image in the folder view mode(second display method) as shown in FIG. 1, similar to the first exampleshown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canenhance the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image.

If determined that the database is usable in step S304, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 sets the stored display mode (S306; setting offirst display method), similar to step S106 of FIG. 5. The displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can display the image recorded in the internalmemory based on the display mode set in step S306 (S308).

As described, above, if determined that the database is usable in stepS304, the display control apparatus 1000 displays the image in thestored display mode (first display method), similar to the first exampleshown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canenhance the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image.

Through the use of the processing method shown in FIG. 7, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can selectively set the first display method orthe second display method based on the existence of the database orwhether or not the database is usable, and display the images recordedin the internal memory. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000can realize the processes (A) to (C) described above by using theprocessing method shown in FIG. 7, whereby the convenience and theoperability of the user in displaying the image can be enhanced.

Fourth Example

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a fourth example of the flow of process inthe display control apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. Here, FIG. 8 shows an example of the process of whenthe display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theinternal memory, similar to the third example shown in FIG. 7.

Similar to step S300 shown in FIG. 7, the display control apparatus 1000determines whether or not to display the image (S400). If determined notto display the image in step S400, the display control apparatus 1000does not proceed the process.

If determined to display the image in step S400, the display controlapparatus 1000 determines whether or not the database exists in theinternal memory (S402), similar to step S302 shown in FIG. 7.

<When Determined that Database does not Exist>

If determined that the database does not exist in the internal memory instep S402, the display control apparatus 1000 newly creates the database(S412). The database created in step S412 corresponds to the database inthe initial state in which the images recorded in the internal memory isnot registered.

When the database is created in step S412, the display control apparatus1000 sets the folder view mode, similar to step S110 shown in FIG. 5(S414; setting of second display method). The display control apparatus1000 displays the images recorded in the internal memory based on thedisplay mode set in step S414 (S410).

As described above, if determined that the database does not exist inthe internal memory in step S402, the display control apparatus 1000displays the image in the folder view mode (second display method) shownin FIG. 1, similar to the first example shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 can enhance the convenience and theoperability of the user in displaying the image.

<When Determined that Database Exists>

If determined that the database exists in the internal memory in stepS402, the display control apparatus 1000 determines whether or not thedatabase is usable (S404), similar to step S304 of FIG. 7.

If determined that the database is not usable in step S404, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 set the folder view mode (S414; setting of seconddisplay method), similar to step S310 of FIG. 7. The display controlapparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in the internal memory basedon the display mode set in step S414 (S410).

If determined that the database is not usable in step S404, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 displays the image in the folder view mode(second display method) as shown in FIG. 1, similar to the first exampleshown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 canenhance the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image.

If determined that the database is usable in step S404, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 determines whether or not “number of imageregistered in database >N” (S406), similar to step S206 of FIG. 6.

Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can prevent errors such asnot being able to read out the information registered in the database asthe information is not recorded by performing the determination based onthe number of images registered in the database, similar to the secondexample shown in FIG. 6.

If determined as not “number of image registered in database >N” in stepS406, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the folder view mode(S414; setting of second display method), similar to step S310 of FIG.7. The display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded inthe internal memory based on the display mode set in step S414 (S410).

If determined that the number of images registered in the database isnot greater than a predetermined threshold value (N) in step S406, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 displays the image in the folder viewmode (second display method) as shown in FIG. 1, similar to the secondexample shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000can enhance the convenience and the operability of the user indisplaying the image.

If determined that “number of image registered in database >N” in stepS406, the display control apparatus 1000 sets the stored display mode(4208; setting of first display method), similar to step S106 of FIG. 5.The display control apparatus 1000 displays the images recorded in theinternal memory based on the display mode set in step S408 (S410).

If determined that the number of images registered in the database isgreater than a predetermined threshold value (N) in step S406, thedisplay control apparatus 1000 displays the image in the stored displaymode (first display method), similar to the first example shown in FIG.5. Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can enhance theconvenience and the operability of the user in displaying the image.

Through the use of the processing method shown in FIG. 8, the displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can selectively set the first display method orthe second display method based on the number of images registered inthe database and the like, and display the images recorded in theinternal memory, similar to the second example shown in FIG. 6.Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can realize the processes(A) to (C) described above by using the processing method shown in FIG.8, whereby the convenience and the operability of the user in displayingthe image can be enhanced.

Therefore, the display control apparatus 1000 can realize the processes(A) to (C) described above by using the processing method shown in FIGS.5 to 8, whereby the convenience and the operability of the user indisplaying the image can be enhanced.

The processing method in the display control apparatus 1000 according tothe embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the processingmethod shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. For instance, the display controlapparatus 1000 may use the processing method in which step S104 is notperformed in the processing method shown in FIG. 5, or the processingmethod in which step S204 is not performed in the processing methodshown in FIG. 6. Similar to the processing methods shown in FIGS. 7 and8, the display control apparatus 1000 may use the processing method inwhich the respective step S304, S404 is not performed. The displaycontrol apparatus 1000 can realize the processes (A) to (C) describedabove even by using the above processing methods, whereby theconvenience and the operability of the user in displaying the image canbe enhanced.

(Display Control Apparatus According to Embodiment of the PresentInvention)

The configuration of the display control apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention capable of realizing the processes(A) to (C) described above will now be described. An example where thedisplay control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention has a communication function for communicating with anexternal device and an imaging function for imaging a still image and/ormoving image will be described, but it should be recognized that theconfiguration of the display control apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

First Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration of adisplay control apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 9 shows one example of a configuration of thedisplay control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention capable of enhancing the convenience and the operability ofthe user in displaying the images recorded in the external memory(recording medium).

With reference to FIG. 9, the display control apparatus 100 includes acommunication unit 102, an imaging unit 104, an internal memory 106, anexternal memory accommodating unit 108, a control unit 110, a displayunit 112, and an operation unit 114.

The display control apparatus 100 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory;not shown) recorded with programs and control data such as calculationparameter to be used by the control unit 110, a RAM (Random AccessMemory; not shown) for primarily storing programs executed by thecontrol unit 110, and the like. The display control apparatus 100connects each components by a bus serving as a data transmission path.

[Hardware Configuration Example of Display Control Apparatus 100]

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the display control apparatus 100 according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 10,the display control apparatus 100 includes a lens/imaging element 150, asignal processing circuit 152, an MPU 154, a ROM 156, a RAM 158, arecording medium 160, an input/output interface 162, an operation inputdevice 164, a display device 166, a communication interface 168, and aslot 170. The display control apparatus 100 connects each components bya bus 172 serving as a data transmission path.

The lens/imaging element 150 and the signal processing circuit 152function as the imaging unit 104. The lens/imaging element 150 isconfigured by an image sensor using plural lens of the optical systemand the imaging element such as CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The signal processing circuit152 includes an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit and an ADC (Analogto Digital Converter), and converts the analog signal generated by theimaging element to a digital signal (image data), and performs varioussignal processing. The signal processing performed by the signalprocessing circuit 152 includes White Balance correction process,interpolation process, color tone correction process, gamma correctionprocess, YCbCr conversion process, edge enhancement process, and Jpegcoding process, but is not limited thereto. The White Balance correctionprocess is a process of multiplying a gain set in advance for each colorof RGB (Red, Green, Blue) with respect to the RAW image data (imagebefore signal processing) to amplify the pixel value corresponding toeach pixel. The interpolation process is a process of creating the RGBof all the pixels from the Bayer array. The color tone correctionprocess is the process of correcting the color tone of the image. Thegamma correction process is a process of non-linear converting thesignal of RGB, and ensuring visual linearity. The YCbCr conversionprocess is a process of converting the RGB to the YCbCr based on apredetermined conversion equation. Here, Y is luminance, Cb ischrominance, and Cr is chrominance. The edge enhancement process is aprocess of detecting the edge portion from the image, and enhancing theluminance of the detected edge portion to emphasize the contrastingdensity of the image. The Jpeg coding process is a process of convertingthe image to an image file of JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)format.

The signal processing circuit 152 can perform compression process on thesignal processed image data and record the same in various types ofrecording medium (e.g., internal memory 106, external memory 300 to behereinafter described). Furthermore, the signal processing circuit 152can perform decompression process on the image data read out fromvarious types of recording medium and display the same on the displaydevice 166 (display unit 112).

The MPU 154 functions as the control unit 110 for controlling the entiredisplay control apparatus 100. The MPU 154 also functions as a databaserecognizing unit 120 described later, a display method setting unit 122,and a display controlling unit 124.

The ROM 156 stores programs and control data such as calculationparameter to be used by the MPU 154, and RAM 158 primarily storesprograms and the like executed by the MPU 154.

The recording medium 160 functions as the internal memory 106, andstores the display mode holding data storing the set display mode,application, image (image data), and the like. The recording medium 160may be a magnetic recording medium such as hard disc, non-volatilememory such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read OnlyMemory), flash memory, MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory),FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory), PRAM (Phase change RandomAccess Memory), and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The input/output interface 162 connects the operation input device 164and the display device 166. The operation input device 164 functions asthe operation unit 114, and the display device 166 functions as thedisplay unit 112. The input/output interface 162 may be USB terminal,DVI (Digital Visual Interface) terminal, HDMI (High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface) terminal, and the like, but is not limitedthereto. The operation input device 164 may be button, direction key,rotary selector such as jog dial, or combination thereof, and isarranged on the display control apparatus 100 and connected with theinput/output interface 162 in the display control apparatus 100. Thedisplay device 166 includes LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and organic EL(Electro Luminescence) display, or also referred to as OLED display(Organic Light Emitting Diode display)), and is arranged on the displaycontrol apparatus 100. The display device 166 is connected with theinput/output interface 162 in the display control apparatus 100. Itshould be noted that the input/output interface 162 can be connectedwith the operation input device (e.g., keyboard and mouse) serving asthe external device of the display control apparatus 100 and the displaydevice (e.g., external display).

The communication interface 168 is a communication means of the displaycontrol apparatus 100, and functions as the communication unit 102 forperforming wired/wireless communication with the external device throughthe network (or directly). The network may be wired network such as LAN(Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network); wireless network suchas wireless WAN (WWAN; Wireless Wide Area Network) and wireless MAN(WMAN; Wireless Metropolitan Area Network) through the base station;Internet using communication protocol such as TCP/IP (TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol), and the like, but is not limitedthereto. The display control apparatus 100 can directly communicate withthe external device by USB connection.

The communication interface 168 includes communication antenna and RFcircuit (wireless communication), IEEE 802.15.1 port andtransmission/reception circuit (wireless communication), IEEE 802.11bport and transmission/reception circuit (wireless communication), LANterminal and transmission/reception circuit (wired communication), USBport and USB controller (wired communication/wireless communication), orthe like, but is not limited thereto. The communication interface 168may be configured to respond to network.

The slot 170 functions as the external memory accommodating unit 108,including an insertion port of a removable external memory, forremovably accommodating the external memory 300. The external memory 300inserted and accommodated in the slot 170 may be memory stick, SD MemoryCard, and the like, but is not limited thereto. The slot 170 may be amulti-slot responding to the standards of a plurality of externalmemories.

The display control apparatus 100 performs the processes (A) (recognizedatabase recorded in recording medium) to (C) (display control based onset display method) by the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 10.Therefore, the display control apparatus 100 can enhance the convenienceand the operability with respect to the user in displaying the imagesrecorded in the external memory (recording medium).

The hardware configuration of the display control apparatus 100 is notlimited to the configuration shown in FIG. 10. For example, the displaycontrol apparatus 100 may realize the operation input device 164 and thedisplay device 166 with one operation display device configured by atouch screen.

The configuration of the display control apparatus 100 will be describedwith reference again to FIG. 9. The communication unit 102 is acommunication means of the display control apparatus 100, and performswired/wireless communication with the external device. The communicationof the communication unit 102 is controlled by the control unit 110. Thedisplay control apparatus 100 can acquire image, application, and thelike from the external device, and transmit the images recorded in theexternal memory 300 to the external device by including thecommunication unit 102.

The imaging unit 104 is an imaging means of the display controlapparatus 100, and can obtain image by imaging. The image obtainedthrough imaging may be image (still image) recorded in a still imageformat such as LPEG and bitmap, and image (moving image) recorded in amoving image format such as WMV (Windows Media Video) and H.264/MPEG-4AVC(H.264/Moving Picture Experts Group phase-4 Advanced Video Coding),but is not limited thereto.

The internal memory 106 is a storage means of the display controlapparatus 100. The internal memory 106 stores display mode holding datastoring the set display mode, application, image (image data), and thelike. In FIG. 9, an example where the internal memory 106 stores thedisplay mode holding data 130 is shown. The display control apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention may store thedatabase in the internal memory 106, and display the images recorded inthe internal memory 106 using the database. The above-describedconfiguration according to the embodiment of the present invention willbe hereinafter described.

The internal memory 106 may be a magnetic recording medium such as harddisc, non-volatile memory such as flash memory, and the like, but is notlimited thereto.

The external memory accommodating unit 108 includes an insertion port ofthe external memory, and removably accommodates the external memory.FIG. 9 shows an example where the external memory accommodating unit 108is accommodating the external memory 300. An example where the externalmemory accommodating unit 108 accommodates one external memory 300 isshown in FIG. 9, but is not limited thereto. The external memoryaccommodating unit 108 may accommodate a plurality of external memories.

[External Memory 300]

The external memory 300 is a recording medium that can be removablyaccommodated in the display control apparatus 100, and stores variousdata such as image (image data) and database in which the image and theinformation related to the relevant image are corresponded. FIG. 9 showsan example where the external memory 300 is recorded with a database302, image data A310, image data B312, image data E314, etc. FIG. 9 alsoshows an example where the image data A310 and the image data B312 arerecorded in a folder 101, and the image data E314 is recorded in afolder 201. The display control apparatus 100 displays the imagesrecorded in each folder such as the folder 101 and the folder 201 byfolders when displaying the image in the folder view mode. In FIG. 9, anexample where the database 302 includes one file is shown, but it is notlimited thereto. For instance, the database 302 may be configured from aplurality of files (i.e., file group).

[One Example of Database 302]

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing one example of a databaseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows oneexample of the database 302 shown in FIG. 9. With reference to FIG. 11,the database according to the embodiment of the present inventionincludes the following information (1) to (9). The information (3) isthe information for specifying the images recorded in the recordingmedium, and the information (1), (2), and (4) to (9) correspond to theinformation related to the image showing various information such asrecorded area and content of the images recorded in the recordingmedium. The information (4) to (9) correspond to the informationdefining the attribute of the image.

(1) “File name” for identifying each image (duplicable identifier)

(2) “File path” indicating location where image is recorded

(3) “ID” for uniquely identifying each image (unique identifier)

(4) “Date” defining the date each image is imaged (or created)

(5) “Adult” defining number of adults of the subjects contained in eachimage

(6) “Child” defining number of children of the subjects contained ineach image

(7) “Smile” defining number of subjects with smiling expression of thesubjects contained in each image

(8) “Direction” defining direction (e.g., vertical/horizontal) the imageis imaged

(9) “Favorite” serving as a flag for grouping the favorite imagespecified by the user

The information contained in the database according to the embodiment ofthe present invention is not limited to the information (1) to (9). Forinstance, the database according to the embodiment of the presentinvention may include information of name for identifying each“favorite” group, information for defining the number of babies of thesubjects contained in each image, and the like. It should be recognizedthat the database structure of the database according to the embodimentof the present invention is not limited to FIG. 11.

The display control apparatus 100 can record the image data showing theimage imaged by the imaging unit 104, for example in the external memory300 by accommodating the external memory 300 in the external memoryaccommodating unit 108. The display control apparatus 100 can alsodisplay the images recorded in the external memory 300 in the folderview mode, the data view mode, or the favorite view mode byaccommodating the external memory 300 in the external memoryaccommodating unit 108.

The configuration of the display control apparatus 100 will be describedwith reference again to FIG. 9. The control unit 110 is configured byMPU and the like, and functions to control the entire display controlapparatus 100. The control unit 110 includes the database recognizingunit 120, the display method setting unit 122, and the displaycontrolling unit 124.

The database recognizing unit 120 performs a role of performing theprocess (A) (recognize database recorded in recording medium), andperforms the recognition of the database recorded in the external memory300 based on a predetermined criterion. The database recognizing unit120 selectively outputs a first recognition result for setting the firstdisplay method or a second recognition result for setting the seconddisplay method according to the result of recognition of the database.Here, the database recognizing unit 120 performs the recognition processof the database when the external memory 300 is inserted to the externalmemory accommodating unit 108, or when the operation state is changedfrom the imaging mode of performing imaging to the display mode ofperforming reproduction of image, but is not limited thereto. Thedatabase recognizing unit 120 may perform the recognition process of thedatabase based on a predetermined operation signal transmitted from theoperation unit 114 according to the user operation.

The display method setting unit 122 performs a role of performing theprocess (B) (setting of display method based on recognition result ofdatabase). More specifically, the display method setting unit 122 setsthe display mode (first display method or second display method)corresponding to the recognition result in the database recognizing unit120 based on the first recognition result or the second recognitionresult transmitted from the database recognizing unit 120.

The display controlling unit 124 performs a role of performing theprocess (C) (display control based on set display method), and controlsthe display of image to the display screen based on the display mode(first display method/second display method) set in the display methodsetting unit 122. The display controlling unit 124 may display the imageon the display unit 112 or may display the image on the display deviceserving as an external device.

The display control apparatus 100 can perform the processes (A) to (C)by including the database recognizing unit 120, the display methodsetting unit 122, and the display controlling unit 124.

The display unit 112 is a displaying means arranged in the displaycontrol apparatus 100, and displays various information on the displayscreen. The screen displayed on the display screen of the display unit112 includes a display screen of the image by various display modes, anoperation screen for performing the desired operation on the displaycontrol apparatus 100, and the like. The display unit 112 may be an LCD,an organic EL display, and the like, but is not limited thereto. Forinstance, the display control apparatus 100 may configure the displayunit 112 with a touch screen. In such case, the display unit 112functions as an operation display unit enabling both user operation anddisplay.

The operation unit 114 is an operation means of the display controlapparatus 100 enabling a predetermined operation by the user. Thedisplay control apparatus 100 can perform the operation desired by theuser of the display control apparatus 100 on the display controlapparatus 100 by including the operation unit 114. The operation unit114 may be an operation input device such as keyboard or mouse, button,direction key, rotary selector such as jog dial, or combination thereof,but is not limited thereto.

The display control apparatus 100 performs the process (A) (recognitionof database recorded in recording medium), the process (B) (setting ofdisplay method based on recognition result of database), and the process(C) (display control based on set display method) by the above-describedconfiguration. Therefore, the display control apparatus 100 can enhanceboth the convenience and the operability on the user in displaying theimages recorded in the external memory (recording medium) according tothe above-described configuration.

The display control apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention recognizes the database recorded in the externalmemory 300 (recording medium) accommodated in the external memoryaccommodating unit 108, and selectively sets the first display method orthe second display method based on the recognition result. The displaycontrol apparatus 100 then displays the images recorded in the externalmemory 300 based on the set display method (first display method orsecond display method).

Here, the display control apparatus 100 displays the image using thedatabase if the display method stored when the first display method isset is the display mode using the database. In such case, the displaycontrol apparatus 100 does not perform the process of registering theimages recorded in the external memory 300 in the database, and thusgreat amount of time is not required for the process as with the devicefor performing the processes (a) to (d). The display control apparatus100 displays the images recorded in the folder by folders (folder viewmode) when the display method stored when the first display method isset is the display mode not using the database.

If the second display method is set, the display control apparatus 100does not display the images using the database. Therefore, when thesecond display method is set, an event in which the images recorded inthe external memory 300 may not be automatically displayed does notoccur in the display control apparatus 100, as with the device appliedwith the related art. Furthermore, when the second display method isset, the display control apparatus 100 does not perform the process ofregistering the images recorded in the external memory 300 in thedatabase, and thus great amount of time is not required for the processas with the device for performing the processes (a) to (d).

Therefore, the display control apparatus 100 can enhance both theconvenience and the operability on the user in displaying the imagesrecorded in the external memory (recording medium).

Second Embodiment

In the above description, the display control apparatus 100 forcontrolling the display of images recorded in the external memory 300has been described as the display control apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention. However, the display controlapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is notlimited to the configuration of controlling the display of imagesrecorded in the external memory 300. A display control apparatus 200 forcontrolling the display of images recorded in the internal memory willbe described below as the display control apparatus according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing one example of a configuration of adisplay control apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 12 shows one example of a configuration of thedisplay control apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention capable of enhancing the convenience and the operability ofthe user in displaying the images recorded in the internal memory(recording medium).

With reference to FIG. 12, the display control apparatus 200 includesthe communication unit 102, the imaging unit 104, the internal memory106, a control unit 202, the display unit 112, and the operation unit114.

The display control apparatus 200 may include a ROM (not shown) recordedwith programs and control data such as calculation parameter to be usedby the control unit 202, a RAM (not shown) for primarily storingprograms executed by the control unit 202, and the like. The displaycontrol apparatus 200 connects each components by a bus serving as adata transmission path.

[Hardware Configuration Example of Display Control Apparatus 200]

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the display control apparatus 200 according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 13,the display control apparatus 200 includes the lens/imaging element 150,the signal processing circuit 152, the MPU 154, the ROM 156, the RAM158, the recording medium 160, the input/output interface 162, theoperation input device 164, the display device 166, the communicationinterface 168, and the like. The display control apparatus 200 connectseach components by the bus 172 serving as a data transmission path.

The lens/imaging element 150, the signal processing circuit 152, the MPU154, the ROM 156, the RAM 158, the recording medium 160, theinput/output interface 162, the operation input device 164, the displaydevice 166, and the communication interface 168 have configurationssimilar to those of the display control apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10.Therefore, the display control apparatus 200 can perform the processes(A) (recognition of database recorded in recording medium) to (C)(display control based on set display method) by the hardwareconfiguration shown in FIG. 13.

Therefore, the display control apparatus 200 can enhance the convenienceand the operability on the user in displaying images recorded in theinternal memory (recording medium) by the hardware configuration shownin FIG. 13.

The configuration of the display control apparatus 200 will be describedwith reference again to FIG. 12. The communication unit 102, the imagingunit 104, the display unit 112, and the operation unit 114 haveconfigurations similar to the communication unit 102, the imaging unit104, the display unit 112, and the operation unit 114 according to thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

The internal memory 106 is a storage means of the display controlapparatus 200, similar to the internal memory 106 related to the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 9. The internal memory 106 stores various datasuch as display mode holding data storing the set display mode, image(image data), database in which the image and the information related tothe image are corresponded, and application. FIG. 12 shows an examplewhere the internal memory 106 is recorded with the display mode holdingdata 130, the database 302, the image data A310, the image data B312,and the image data E314 . . . . Similar to the external memory 300 shownin FIG. 9, FIG. 12 shows an example where the image data A310 and theimage data B312 are recorded in a folder 101, and the image data E314 isrecorded in a folder 201. The display control apparatus 200 displays theimages recorded in each folder such as the folder 101 and the folder 201by folders when displaying the images in the folder view mode, similarto the display control apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

As described above, the display control apparatus 200 includes theinternal memory 106 for storing the image (image data) and the database302, similar to the external memory 300 shown in FIG. 9. The internalmemory 106 stores the display mode holding data 130 similar to theinternal memory 106 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, the display controlapparatus 200 can display the images recorded in the internal memory 106by the folder vide mode, the date view mode, and the like, similar tothe display control apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment fordisplaying the images recorded in the external memory 300.

The control unit 202 is configured by MPU and the like, and functions tocontrol the entire display control apparatus 200. The control unit 202includes a database recognizing unit 210, a display method setting unit212, and a display controlling unit 214.

The database recognizing unit 210 performs a role of performing theprocess (A) (recognize database recorded in recording medium), andperforms the recognition of the database recorded in the internal memory106 based on a predetermined criterion. The database recognizing unit210 selectively outputs a first recognition result for setting the firstdisplay method or a second recognition result for setting the seconddisplay method according to the result of recognition of the database.Here, the database recognizing unit 210 performs the recognition processof the database when the operation state is changed from the imagingmode of performing imaging to the display mode of performingreproduction of image, or based on a predetermined operation signaltransmitted from the operation unit 114 according to the user operation,but is not limited thereto. For instance, the data recognizing unit 210may perform the recognition process of the database when the connection(e.g., USB connection, network connection, etc.) with the externaldevice is disconnected.

The display method setting unit 212 performs a role of performing theprocess (B) (setting of display method based on recognition result ofdatabase). More specifically, the display method setting unit 212 setsthe display mode (first display method or second display method)corresponding to the recognition result in the database recognizing unit210 based on the first recognition result or the second recognitionresult transmitted from the database recognizing unit 210.

The display controlling unit 214 performs a role of performing theprocess (C) (display control based on set display method), and controlsthe display of image to the display screen based on the display mode(first display method/second display method) set in the display methodsetting unit 212. The display controlling unit 214 may display the imageon the display unit 112 or may display the image on the display deviceserving as an external device.

The display control apparatus 200 can perform the processes (A) to (C)by including the database recognizing unit 210, the display methodsetting unit 212, and the display controlling unit 214.

The display control apparatus 200 performs the process (A) (recognitionof database recorded in recording medium), the process (B) (setting ofdisplay method based on recognition result of database), and the process(C) (display control based on set display method) by the above-describedconfiguration. Therefore, the display control apparatus 200 can enhanceboth the convenience and the operability on the user in displaying theimages recorded in the internal memory (recording medium) according tothe above-described configuration.

The display control apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention recognizes the database recorded in the internalmemory 106 (recording medium), and selectively sets the first displaymethod or the second display method based on the recognition result. Thedisplay control apparatus 200 then displays the images recorded in theinternal memory 106 based on the set display method (first displaymethod or second display method).

Here, the display control apparatus 200 displays the image using thedatabase if the display method stored when the first display method isset is the display mode using the database, similar to the displaycontrol apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. In such case,the display control apparatus 200 does not perform the process ofregistering the images recorded in the internal memory 106 in thedatabase, and thus great amount of time is not required for the processas with the device for performing the processes (a) to (d). The displaycontrol apparatus 200 displays the images recorded in the folder byfolders (folder view mode) when the display method stored when the firstdisplay method is set is the display mode not using the database,similar to the display control apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment.

If the second display method is set, the display control apparatus 200does not display the images using the database, similar to the displaycontrol apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, whenthe second display method is set, an event in which the images recordedin the internal memory 106 is not automatically displayed does not occurin the display control apparatus 200, as with the device applied withthe related art. Furthermore, when the second display method is set, thedisplay control apparatus 200 does not perform the process ofregistering the images recorded in the internal memory 106 in thedatabase, and thus great amount of time is not required for the processas with the device for performing the processes (a) to (d).

Therefore, the display control apparatus 200 can enhance both theconvenience and the operability on the user in displaying the imagesrecorded in the internal memory (recording medium).

Variant Related to Second Embodiment

In the above description, the display control apparatus 200 includingonly the internal memory 106 serving as the recording medium has beendescribed as the display control apparatus according to the secondembodiment. However, the configuration of the display control apparatusaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention is notlimited to the above.

For instance, the display control apparatus according to the secondembodiment may further include an external memory accommodating unit, sothat the images recorded in the accommodated external memory can also bedisplayed, similar to the display control apparatus 100 according to thefirst embodiment. In this case as well, the display control apparatusaccording to the variant of the second embodiment can perform theprocess (A) (recognition of database recorded in recording medium), theprocess (B) (setting of display method based on recognition result ofdatabase), and the process (C) (display control based on set displaymethod).

Therefore, the display control apparatus according to the variant of thesecond embodiment can enhance both the convenience and the operabilityon the user in displaying the images recorded in the external memoryand/or the internal memory (recording medium).

The display control apparatuses 100, 200 have been described asembodiments of the present invention, but the embodiment of the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The embodiment of the presentinvention may be applied to various devices including an imaging devicehaving an imaging function such as a digital camera and a mobiletelephone with digital camera function, a computer such as PC, mobilecommunication device such as mobile telephone and PHS (PersonalHandyphone System), an image/music reproducing device such as WALK MAN(registered trademark), and a mobile game machine such as PlayStationPortable (registered trademark).

Program Related to Display Control Apparatus of the Embodiment of thePresent Invention Program Related to First Embodiment

Both the convenience and the operability on the user can be enhanced indisplaying the images recorded in the recording medium by a program forcausing a computer to function as the display control apparatus 100according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Program Related to Second Embodiment

Both the convenience and the operability on the user can be enhanced indisplaying the images recorded in the recording medium by a program forcausing a computer to function as the display control apparatus 200according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

In the description above, the provision of the program (computerprogram) for causing the computer to function as the display controlapparatuses 100, 200 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention has been shown, but the embodiment of the present inventionmay also provide a recording medium stored with the program.

The above-described configuration shows one example of the embodiment ofthe present invention, and obviously pertains to the technical scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: circuitry configured torecognize a predetermined type of information being stored in a memory,wherein the predetermined type of information is generated based on aplurality of image data, wherein the predetermined type of informationincludes at least face related information of the image data, andwherein the predetermined type of information is separate from and isnot attached to the image data in the memory, and set a first displaycontrol method that uses the predetermined type of information fordisplaying at least one image data based on that a first recognitionresult is outputted in the recognizing step and set a second displaycontrol method that does not use the predetermined type of informationto generate a display screen for displaying the at least one image databased on that a second recognition result is outputted in therecognizing step.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to: output the first recognition resultfor setting the first display method when the predetermined type ofinformation is stored in the memory, and output the second recognitionresult for setting the second display method when the predetermined typeof information is not stored in the memory.
 3. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: output thefirst recognition result when the predetermined type of information isstored in the memory and the predetermined type of information isusable, and output the second recognition result when the predeterminedtype of information is not usable.
 4. The system according to claim 1,wherein the circuitry is further configured to: output the firstrecognition result when the predetermined type of information is storedin the memory and a number of images used for generating thepredetermined type of information is greater than a predeterminednumber, and output the second recognition result when the number ofimages used for generating the predetermined type of information issmaller than or equal to the predetermined number.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:output the first recognition result for setting the first display methodwhen the predetermined type of information is stored in the memory, whenthe database is usable, and when a number of images used for generatingthe predetermined type of information is greater than a predeterminednumber, and output the second recognition result for setting the seconddisplay method when the predetermined type of information is not storedin the memory, when the predetermined type of information is not usable,or when the number of images used for generating the predetermined typeof information is smaller than or equal to the predetermined number. 6.The system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to set the first display method by using the face relatedinformation and favorite related information.
 7. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transitionbetween the first display state and the second display state in responseto an operation of the user.
 8. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined type of information itself does not include any of theplurality of image data.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein thepredetermined type of information is stored as a separate file from theplurality of image data.
 10. A method, implemented by a system havingcircuitry, comprising: performing, by the circuitry, a recognizing stepof recognizing a predetermined type of information being stored in amemory, wherein the predetermined type of information is generated basedon a plurality of image data, wherein the predetermined type ofinformation includes at least face related information of the imagedata, and wherein the predetermined type of information is separate fromand is not attached to the image data in the memory, and setting, by thecircuitry, a first display control method that uses the predeterminedtype of information for displaying at least one image data based on thata first recognition result is outputted in the recognizing step and seta second display control method that does not use the predetermined typeof information to generate a display screen for displaying the at leastone image data based on that a second recognition result is outputted inthe recognizing step.
 11. The method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: outputting the first recognition result for setting thefirst display method when the predetermined type of information isstored in the memory, and outputting the second recognition result forsetting the second display method when the predetermined type ofinformation is not stored in the memory.
 12. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising: outputting the first recognition resultwhen the predetermined type of information is stored in the memory andthe database is usable, and outputting the second recognition resultwhen the predetermined type of information is not usable.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: outputting the firstrecognition result when the predetermined type of information is storedin the memory and a number of images used to generate the predeterminedtype of information is greater than a predetermined number, andoutputting the second recognition result when the number of images usedto generate the predetermined type of information is smaller than orequal to the predetermined number.
 14. The method according to claim 10,further comprising: outputting the first recognition result for settingthe first display method when the predetermined type of information isstored in the memory, when the predetermined type of information isusable, and when a number of images used to generate the predeterminedtype of information is greater than a predetermined number, andoutputting the second recognition result for setting the second displaymethod when the predetermined type of information is not stored in thememory, when the database is not usable, or when the number of imagesused to generate the predetermined type of information is smaller thanor equal to the predetermined number.
 15. The method according to claim10, further comprising: setting the first display method by using theface related information and favorite related information.
 16. Themethod according to claim 10, further comprising: transitioning betweenthe first display state and the second display state in response to anoperation of the user.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein thepredetermined type of information itself does not include any of theplurality of image data.
 18. The method according to claim 10, whereinthe predetermined type of information is stored as a separate file fromthe plurality of image data.
 19. A non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a program that when implemented by an apparatus causesthe apparatus to perform a method comprising: recognizing apredetermined type of information being stored in a memory, wherein thepredetermined type of information is generated based on a plurality ofimage data, wherein the predetermined type of information includes atleast face related information of the image data, and wherein thepredetermined type of information is separate from and is not attachedto the image data in the memory, and setting a first display controlmethod that uses the predetermined type of information for displaying atleast one image data based on that a first recognition result isoutputted in the recognizing step and set a second display controlmethod that does not use the predetermined type of information togenerate a display screen for displaying the at least one image databased on that a second recognition result is outputted in therecognizing step.